Sun City sees expansion in EBT Trafficking Unit

The OIG increased its presence in the El Paso area as the EBT Trafficking unit placed investigators in the city to tackle the theft of benefits delivered by Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Currently the agency has teams at the El Paso State Supported Living Center and El Paso Psychiatric Center who focus on patient safety.

EBT cards work like debit cards, allowing clients to access benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other assistance programs. El Paso County ranks sixth in the state for SNAP spending at almost $269 million annually. The new team will investigate criminal misuse of (EBT) cards and refer cases and evidence to area prosecutors.

To mitigate benefit thefts, the EBT Trafficking Unit will investigate retailers and others who purchase benefits at a discount in exchange for cash or allow clients to purchase barred items like tobacco and alcohol. Often, these trafficked funds are used by retailers to buy inventory for their stores or restaurants. Recently, OIG investigators worked with El Paso police to arrest six program clients for selling a combined $69,000 in benefits to a restaurant that paid each client half of the value of the benefit in cash.

To report benefits fraud, contact the OIG at ReportTexasFraud.com or call 800-436-6184.